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Beer and Wine setup returns to Indiana State Fair in 2nd year
 

By JOHN BELDEN

Indiana Correspondent

 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana State Fair, Aug. 7-23 this year on the State Fairgrounds at 1202 E. 38th Street in Indianapolis, showcases the best of the state’s agriculture and ag business.

Its theme this year is "Year of the Farmer" – and that extends to Indiana’s booming beer and wine scene. The Beer and Wine Exhibition, which debuted in 2014, returns with even more local breweries and vineyards participating.

The exhibition is free with fair admission to those aged 21 and older and will be located in the Grand Hall across from the newly renovated Coliseum. It will be open noon-9 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on the weekends. Through a license held by the Indiana State Fair Commission, the breweries and wineries will offer tastings and sales by the glass. By state law, all beverages must be consumed within the venue.

In its inaugural year, the exhibition had 30 breweries and 25 wineries participate, and nearly 50,000 visitors during the 17-day fair, according to Lesley Gordon, media community outreach manager for the fair commission.

"We had a very positive response from fairgoers," she said, as well as from the beer and wine producers: "We heard extremely positive feedback, due to the free marketing their brewery or winery was getting out of being in attendance. They also loved the atmosphere and setup.

"The response on signups for 2015 has been successful and new breweries and wineries are wanting to participate."

This year’s exhibition expects to see 50 breweries and 30 wineries, all from Indiana, Gordon said. Four breweries and four wineries will participate at a time. There are also plans for educational programming and entertainment acts on various days throughout the fair.

"The State Fair Beer and Wine Exhibition is a great opportunity for Indiana’s breweries and wineries to showcase their world-class products," said Clay Robinson, co-owner of Sun King Brewing Co. of Indianapolis, one of the state’s largest craft brewers.

"Sun King participated during several sessions during the inaugural year and plans to again this year. The State Fair allows us an opportunity to engage, educate and share our beers with a great number of people."

Indiana’s production of craft beer and wine has seen enormous growth in recent years, with nearly 100 brewers listed with the Brewers of Indiana Guild and dozens of wineries statewide. Their impact on local economies includes being tourist destinations and encouraging the production of brewers’ grains and hops.

"We encourage fairgoers to visit the exhibit often, and as they experience these different local wines and brews, take time to understand the work and passion that these vendors put into their product and how unique each one is to Indiana," Gordon said.

"The Beer and Wine Exhibit allows Hoosiers to learn more about the alcoholic beverages that are produced locally and highlights two very important Indiana agriculture industries, which falls in line with (the state fair’s) mission of promoting agriculture and agritourism throughout Indiana."

The 2014 exhibit came after the lifting of a ban on alcohol at the fair that dated back to the 1940s. In addition to this year’s exhibit, there will be alcohol sales during separately ticketed concerts held during the fair in Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

5/27/2015